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NARRATIVE TALE IN JAIN LITERATURE
conduct. Kānhada agreed to observe those vows wholeheartedly26
In course of time, there came the rainy season.27 The rivers and pools had become full of water, and streams were flowing strongly. Taking advantage of this, Kānhada cut down some pieces of sandalwood from the forest nearby. He did not know the value of this sandalwood. Binding these tightly, and placing them on the current of the stream, he took them to his house and afterwards carried them to the market to sell28. In that country, there ived Srīpati29. a big merchant, who had a servant named Champaka. Champaka went to the market and saw this sandalwood brought for sale. After paying him something, Champaka brought Kānhada to his master's house30. No sooner had Kānhada come to the courtyard of Sripati, who was seated on a window,31 than he (Śrīpati) perceived the smell of the sweet fragrance of sandalwood. Sripati knew the value of this wood and at once enquired about its price.32 Kānhada did not know the value of this wood; so he could not suggest any price. The merchant gave Kāṇhaďa five hundred gold coins and bought the whole
lot. 33
With this money, Kāņhada came to the house of a courtesan, Kāmalatā by name.34 There were present many whore-mongers, dandies and lechers who laughed at the sight of Kānhada, thinking him to be a proper jovial person, who would spend the whole night in the house of the harlot.35 Kāmalatā was a paragon of beauty that "excels the quirks of blazoning pens, and in the essential vesture of creation does tire the ingener."36 Kānhada, obviously 26. Verses 33-39. 27. Verses 40-42. 28. Verses 43-45. 29. Verses 46-47. 30. Verse 48. 31. Verse 49. 32. Verse 50. 33. Verse 51. 34. Verse 52. 35. Verses 52-54. 36. Verses 55.
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